Bonne Fête!

Every year on March 8^th, the women of Cameroon take a day for themselves. Technically it’s International Women’s Day, but things are taken more seriously here in Cameroon. There is an official cloth designed and lots of women get dresses made. In Yaoundé there is a huge parade, but you can only march if you are wearing the Women’s Day fabric. It’s a really neat experience to be surrounded by thousands of women you don’t know, but to have a sense of solidarity because everyone is wearing matching clothes.

As part of Women’s Day, men are supposed to do the cooking and take care of the children. (But at my house, my mom cooked the night before so although she got the day off, my dad didn’t really pick up the slack.) It is not an official holiday, but most women don’t go to work – which means that most kids don’t have school either. At night, women go to bars and celebrate their independence.

Women’s Day is also a chance to evaluate the places where Cameroonian women don’t have all the rights they deserve. This year’s theme was equal access to education, training, science and technology because those four things have been identified as key factors in helping women advance in society. 

Overall, it was a really neat experience and if you’re ever in Cameroon on March 8^th I would highly recommend taking the time to check out the Women’s Day festivities. 

MUFFA is a women's microfinance organization; we marched with their group in the parade.

It's hard to see but the crowd of women stretches down and past the big building on the left.